IP Library Granted Patent US 12,107,039
Granted Patent B2
US 12,107,039 · App. 17/207,223 · Granted Oct 1, 2024

Power component configured for improving partial discharge performance and system and process of implementing the same

Inventors: Zach Cole (Summers, AR); Steven Ericksen (Rogers, AR)
Assignee: Wolfspeed, Inc.
H01L23/50H01L23/5286
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,107,039
App. No.
17/207,223
Granted
Oct 1, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power component configured to improve partial discharge performance includes at least one terminal that includes a first planar surface, a second planar surface opposite the first planar surface, and a curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface. The power component may include at least one of the following: a power module or a bus bar.

Claims (73)

1. A power component, comprising:

at least one terminal comprising a first planar surface, a second planar surface opposite the first planar surface, and a curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface;

the at least one terminal further comprises side surfaces extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface; and

the side surfaces on a perimeter of the at least one terminal and the side surfaces each comprise the curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface,

wherein the power component comprises at least one of the following: a power module or a bus bar.

2. The power component of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one terminal further comprises a terminating end connected to the first planar surface and the second planar surface; and

the terminating end on the perimeter of the at least one terminal and the terminating end comprises the curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface.

3. The power component of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one terminal further comprises corner surfaces extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface;

the corner surfaces further define a surface that curves from the side surfaces to the terminating end; and

the corner surfaces comprise the curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface.

4. The power component of claim 1 wherein the at least one terminal comprises an aperture defined by an aperture surface that comprises a radius and a curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface.

5. The power component of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one terminal further comprises a terminating end connected to the first planar surface and the second planar surface and the terminating end on the perimeter of the at least one terminal;

the terminating end comprises the curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface;

the at least one terminal further comprises corner surfaces extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface;

the corner surfaces comprise the curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface;

the corner surfaces further define a surface that curves from the side surfaces to the terminating end;

the at least one terminal further comprises an aperture defined by an aperture surface that comprises a radius and a curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface.

6. The power component of claim 1 wherein the curved surface of the at least one terminal reduces an electric field strength.

7. The power component of claim 1 wherein the curved surface of the at least one terminal increases an inception voltage of a partial discharge of the at least one terminal.

8. The power component of claim 1 wherein the curved surface of the at least one terminal increases an inception voltage of a partial discharge of the at least one terminal by 25%-225%.

9. The power component of claim 1 wherein the curved surface of the at least one terminal increases an inception voltage of a partial discharge of the at least one terminal by 2 KV-19 KV.

10. The power component of claim 1 wherein the curved surface of the at least one terminal comprises a radius of curvature that is 30% to 80% of a distance between the first planar surface and the second planar surface.

11. The power component of claim 1 wherein a cross-section of the curved surface comprises at least one of the following: a partial circle, a partial ellipse, a partial parabola, a partial hyperbola, a partial squircle, or a partial superellipse.

12. The power component of claim 1 wherein the at least one terminal is implemented in the power component comprising the power module and the power module comprises:

at least one electrically conductive power substrate;

a housing arranged on the at least one electrically conductive power substrate;

a plurality of power devices arranged on and connected to the at least one electrically conductive power substrate; and

a base plate,

wherein the at least one terminal is electrically connected to the plurality of power devices.

13. A power system comprising the power component of claim 1 , wherein the power system is configured as one of the following: an inverter, a power system, a motor system, a converter, and an AC-DC power supply.

14. The power component of claim 1 wherein the at least one terminal is implemented in the power component that comprises the bus bar.

15. A power module, comprising:

at least one electrically conductive power substrate;

a housing arranged on the at least one electrically conductive power substrate;

at least one terminal comprising a first planar surface, a second planar surface opposite the first planar surface, and a curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface;

the at least one terminal further comprises side surfaces extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface; and

the side surfaces on a perimeter of the at least one terminal and the side surfaces each comprise the curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface;

a plurality of power devices arranged on and connected to the at least one electrically conductive power substrate; and

a base plate,

wherein the at least one terminal is electrically connected to the at least one electrically conductive power substrate.

16. The power module of claim 15 wherein:

the at least one terminal further comprises a terminating end connected to the first planar surface and the second planar surface; and

the terminating end on the perimeter of the at least one terminal and the terminating end further comprises the curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface.

17. The power module of claim 15 wherein:

the at least one terminal further comprises a terminating end connected to the first planar surface and the second planar surface;

the at least one terminal further comprises corner surfaces connected to the first planar surface and the second planar surface;

the corner surfaces further define a surface that curves from the side surfaces to the terminating end; and

the terminating end and the corner surface each comprise the curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface.

18. The power module of claim 17

wherein the terminating end is arranged on a perimeter of the at least one terminal; and

wherein the terminating end and the side surfaces are connected with a curved surface extending from the terminating end to the side surfaces.

19. The power module of claim 15 wherein the at least one terminal further comprises an aperture an aperture surface that comprises a radius and defined by a curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface.

20. The power module of claim 15 wherein a cross-section of the curved surface comprises at least one of the following: a partial circle, a partial ellipse, a partial parabola, a partial hyperbola, a partial squircle, or a partial superellipse.

21. A power system, comprising:

a power module comprising at least one terminal; and

at least one bus bar electrically connected to the at least one terminal,

the at least one terminal comprising a first planar surface, a second planar surface opposite the first planar surface, and a curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface; and

the at least one bus bar comprises a first planar surface, a second planar surface opposite the first planar surface, and a curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface.

22. The power system of claim 21 wherein:

the at least one terminal comprises a terminating end connected to the first planar surface and the second planar surface; and

the terminating end further comprises the curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface.

23. The power system of claim 21 wherein:

the at least one terminal comprises a terminating end connected to the first planar surface and the second planar surface;

the at least one terminal comprises side surfaces connected to the first planar surface and the second planar surface; and

the terminating end and the side surfaces each comprise the curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface.

24. The power system of claim 23 wherein the terminating end and the side surfaces are connected with a curved surface extending from the terminating end to the side surfaces.

25. The power system of claim 21 wherein:

the at least one terminal comprises side surfaces connected to the first planar surface and the second planar surface; and

the at least one terminal comprises a terminating end and the side surfaces each comprise the curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface.

26. The power system of claim 21 wherein the at least one terminal comprises an aperture defined by a curved surface extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface.

Assignments (10)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Mar 26, 2026
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075280/0919 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072992/0467 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072992/0588 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL AT REEL/FRAME NO. 64185/0755 Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WOLFSPEED, INC.
Reel/Frame 072989/0001 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072992/0113 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072992/0381 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2023
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 064185/0755 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 14, 2022
From: CREE, INC.
To: WOLFSPEED, INC.
Reel/Frame 059085/0667 →
MERGER Recorded Aug 13, 2021
From: CREE FAYETTEVILLE, INC.
To: CREE, INC.
Reel/Frame 057291/0406 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2021
From: COLE, ZACH; ERICKSEN, STEVEN
To: CREE FAYETTEVILLE, INC
Reel/Frame 056069/0755 →
Continuity (1)
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